Make It Your Own: Embroidered Bag

This blog post provides a walk-through to our new Chicken Soup Designs pattern: "Make It Your Own: Embroidered Tote Bag".  The pattern can be purchased on Etsy using this link or by contacting us via our Etsy Store!

Step One:  Embroidery
Refer to pattern to cut out and place embroidery.  Embroider one (or both) of piece A.  Cut the squares as directed from the two bottom corners of both A pieces. 

Figure 1

Step Two:  Interior Zippered Pockets
With E facing wrong side up, draw rectangle as specified (see Figure 2a).  Place pocket fabric E on Bag Lining D (with right sides together), centered side to side with the top edges even.  Stitch on the drawn line to make a stitched rectangle (see Figure 2b).  Cut a slit down the center of the stitched rectangle from one end to other.  Stop about 1/4" from each end and cut diagonally into each corner.
 

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

Pull the lining through the slit and press flat so the wrong sides are now together and you have a finished rectangle hole (now called F).

Figure 3

Lay a 9” zipper right side up.  Place F (pocket fabric facing down, lining fabric facing up) with the open-end metal zipper stop showing in the hole but snug up against one end.  The other end of the zipper will be too long but you will just stitch over it.  It will be trimmed off later.  Center the zipper and top stitch around the entire rectangle. Back stitch over both ends of the end zipper

Figure 4

·        Optional Step to hide the zipper tape on the inside of the pocket:

On the wrong side of E, flip the longer piece of the pocket fabric toward the top of F enfolding the lower edge of the zipper tape.  The fold should be right along the zipper tape.  Pull it taut without folding the zipper tape. (See Fig 5A).  Turn F over so the lining is facing up and you can see the zipper stitching.  Stitch on the zipper stitching along the bottom of the zipper.  Turn the piece over, and flip the fabric back down. The bottom zipper tape is covered. Fold the pocket fabric up so that the bottom edge of E is even with the top edge of F.  Pin in place. Turn F over so the lining is facing up and you can see the zipper stitching.  Stitch on the previous zipper stitching along the top of the zipper.  Now the top zipper tape is covered (see Fig 5B). 

Figure 5 (A and B)

This picture shows pocket E folded up so that when stitched, it will cover the zipper tape.

Complete Pockets: 
With the lining right side up and the zipper showing, fold each side of E and D at the ends of the zipper toward the center of the zipper, exposing the edges of the pockets (see Fig 5).  Stitch from the top to the bottom of the pocket only, about 1/2” in from the raw edges.  Do this at both ends of the zipper to make the sides of the pocket.  If you covered the zipper tape, then there will be a pleat in the pocket fabric at each end of the zipper.  Just stitch over it like it’s not there.  Fold the lining edges back out.  This piece is now a completed lining with pocket.  Repeat for the other lining piece.

Stitch the two B pieces to the top of the two F pieces and press. Cut a the corner squares from the two bottom corners of both lining pieces (as specified in pattern).

Figure 6

Step Three:  Handles

Refer to pattern to construct and pin handles into place

Figure 7

Step Four:  Exterior Zipper Preparation

Refer to pattern to make G pieces.  Slip G over the trimmed zipper ends and topstitch several times.

Sandwich the zipper between two C pieces, right sides together. The zipper tape should be centered from end to end and even with the edges of the two C pieces. Stitch all the way from one end to the other (even though the zipper is not as long as the C pieces). Open out and topstitch all the way from one end to another with a 3/8” seam. Repeat for the other edge of the zipper.

Place the zipper sandwich on one of the A pieces, right sides together. Baste.

This picture shows the zipper sandwich basted to piece A and flipped up so you can see it better.

Place one of the lining pieces, right side down, on top of the zipper/A piece. Stitch.

Remove the handle pins. With the handles pulled out and the lining, zipper, and A facing the other direction, topstitch through all 3 layers starting at the point that is even with one end of the zipper and stitching to the point that is even with the other end of the zipper. Do not stitch all the way to either end. Do the same with the other A piece, zipper sandwich, and lining. Backstitch over handles to make sure they are securely attached.

Picture shows handle pulled to one side, and lining, zipper, and A facing the other direction in preparation for topstitching.

Step 5: Finishing seams
Lay the bag so the two A pieces are right sides together and the two lining pieces are right sides together.  Stitch around the bag, skipping the cut-out corner squares. For turning, leave a generous opening in the center bottom of the lining.

Matching the seams in the cut-out corners, stitch the corners closed (see Fig 11). Stitch the lining corner seam to the exterior corner seam to secure the lining in the bag. Turn the bag right side out and stitch the turning hole closed.

Enjoy your completed bag!

Time for a Cuppa?

Nothing kicks me into high gear like an upcoming swap on Ravelry!  (By the way... if you knit or crochet.. and you don't know what Ravelry is, you need to head on over and check it out!!!)  Crafty-wise... there is nothing I like more than to sew/knit/craft the perfect package to send out to my swap partner.

 

The "Just Add Water" swap in the Ewe LaLa group on Ravelry was certainly no exception.  The idea was to come up with a tea-themed package that would delight its recipient :).  First... the tea cozy!  My swap partner's kitchen has touches of lime green... so I went with the reversible Emily Tea Cozy pattern in cream and lime green.  I knit the front and back pieces 2-at-a-time magic loop.  This is my very favorite way to knit something that has more than one identical piece, because you are assured that they are exactly the same size, and you only have to read the chart once!

 

 



 

Next, I knit up a sweet little dishcloth (also in lime green) using 100% cotton, with a cute teapot motif, "Tea Pot Dishcloth by Rachel van Schie"

 

 



 

 

Of course, I also included lots of other fun hand-mades, some yummy tea, and scrumptious yarn....

 



 

However, I think one my very favorite things to make was the embroidered tea towel :) (also in lime green, of course!). 

 

Just in case you would like to embroider your own sweet little tea party towel, I've included a link to my free pattern below (just click the picture).  Have a cuppa on me!

 

 



Sending A Little Love....

I adore Valentine's Day.... knitting, that is!  Every year, I tend to go a little overboard with my projects (and this year was certainly no exception).  And who can blame me?  Red & White, Pink & Red, Pink & White; they are all such great color combos. 

 

And what goes better with some Valentine's chocolate than coffee (and free Ravelry patterns)?  I used the Valentine Mug Cozy by Kristen TenDyke to knit up these little cozies - a perfect fit for the ubiquitous Starbucks travel cup.  I altered the pattern to be in-the-round, and fit a travel cup rather than a mug as follows: 

I cast on 54 stitches (2 sections of 19 for the colorwork hearts, and 2 sections of 8 for two cable portions), and I did three rows of k1p1 ribbing for the top and bottom parts. With a size 4 needle for me - perfect proportions for a travel mug cozy - in the round - so no need to do colorwork on the “WS” of the cozy, like with the flat version.

 

I also knit up this little cozy using the Java Love pattern by Diane Pearl Kostecki - so sweet!

 

 

And who couldn't use a couple more of these cute dishcloths for the kitchen?  I knit them 2-at-a-time so that I would only have to read the chart once (but get two dishcloths out of the deal!)  Heart Dishcloth Pattern by Emily Jagos

 





And to finish it off - some Valentine's Day Sewing, using my current favorite bag tutorial (Terri Ann's Sock Sack).  Once again, I do make some modifications.  I like my bags fully lined, as well as the pockets - so I have adapted the pattern for that ♥)

 

 

And then one of my own design - featuring an outer zippered pouch for notions, a squared off bottom for sitting upright, and a top zippered enclosure to keep your knitting safe and secure!

 

 

 

I also made some of these cute little lined zippered pouches, using the tutorial over at Jedi Craft Girl.

I hope this upcoming Valentine's Day inspires some sweet crafting of your own! 

Zippered Teacup Pouch

I've been sewing up some of these cute little teacup pouches, and I thought I would share a tutorial on how to make one of your own! If you have ever made a lined, zippered pouch, then this will be a piece of cake.  If you have never made a lined, zippered pouch... then I hope this will help!

Materials:

• 3 Coordinating Fat Quarters
• Scrap of muslin, felt or linen for tea bag embroidery
• Small amount of embroidery floss
• 9” zipper
• Warm & Natural Cotton Batting
• Sewing Thread
• Desired Embellishments (ribbon, trim, etc)
• Teacup templates (download link at the bottom of this post)

Cutting Directions: 

From each fat quarter, cut one strip 2” by 18” (3 strips total) and sew the strips together to make a piece that is approximately 5” by 18”.  Fold this piece in half lengthwise, and cut out two tea cup bodies (for OUTER front and OUTER back).  Choose one fat quarter to be the lining, and cut two more tea cup bodies to use as the inner lining (for INNER front and INNER back).  Using the handle pattern, cut one handle from your desired fabric.

From the cotton batting, cut two tea cup bodies, and one strip that is ¾” by 8½” to pad the handle.

Sewing Directions:  (All Seams are ¼”):
Place the front and back pieces onto the cotton batting pieces, and quilt as desired (i.e. stitch in the ditch between the 3 different fabrics).  This is also a good time to add any desired embellishments (ribbon, trim, etc). 

 

Fold the handle piece lengthwise, right sides together, and place the ¾” strip of cotton batting next to the fold.  Stitch along the raw edges, leaving one end open.  Turn right side out and press.

 

 

Start by placing the OUTER front face up. Then, along the upper width, place your zipper wrong size up and centered over the fabric.  Now take one of the INNER lining pieces, and lay it on top of the zipper and outer fabric. All three pieces (outer fabric, zipper, lining fabric) should align at the very top. You can pin if you prefer.  Sew the two fabric pieces to the zipper.  

 Now, do the same process to the other side of the zipper.  Place the zipper face down on the right side of the OUTER back fabric.  Line up the edges.  Layer the lining on top, right side down.  Pin, if desired, and sew the two fabric pieces to the zipper.

Open it out flat, press, and top stitch about 1/8" next to both sides of the zipper.  This will hold the fabric in place so that it won't catch in the zipper.  
 

Take the handle piece, and pin ONLY TO THE OUTER front face and NOT THE LINING.  Baste in place.

Unzip the zipper partway (This is a very important step!  Otherwise, you won’t be able to turn your bag right side out after it is sewn shut).  Pin the two lining pieces and the two outer pieces, right sides together (aligning seams, and pinching the zipper edges towards the lining).  Sew, ¼” from the edge, making sure not to stitch through the zipper stops (which will break your needle), and leaving a hole for turning at the top of the lining (flat base of the teacup). 

 

 

Clip corners to help the bag lay flat, and turn right side out through the hole left in the lining.  Use a chopstick or a blunt skewer to help push the corners out.  Topstitch close to the edge of the lining to close the hole.

Using the tea bag template, cut two pieces from muslin, linen, felt etc.  Sew these two pieces together with a scant ¼” seam, leaving a small hole for turning.  Turn right side out through the hole, and then topstitch close to the edge all the way around the bag.  Embroider the word “TEA” on the bag, and then attach to the bag front with a small length of embroidery floss. 

 

Get your teacup template by clicking on the picture below: 

I hope you enjoy sewing these darling little pouches as much as I did!  Stuff them full of your favorite tea bags and send them to a friend to enjoy!